Personal Prayer: An Introduction to Kavanah

Rabbi Dovid Bendory, 13 Tevet 5767
Wall Street Shul

We have been talking all about Kavanah. This word "Kavanah"
has come up in so many different contexts, but none of them accurately
defines Kavanah in regards to our tefillah (prayer). We have
seen Kavanah meaning "focusing on tefillah," or "concentration
in tefillah;" understanding the words of tefillah, along with
proper enunciation of the words of both tefillah and kriat
shema. We have even seen Kavanah with regard to how we stand and
what direction we face when praying. For example, one should have in mind to
face Eretz Yisrael during his Amidah.

Yet our common usage of the word "Kavanah" in regards to
tefillah seems to differ. When one states, "that chazzan has
tremendous kavanah," this doesn't refer to any of the above
definitions. We mean to refer to someone who brings tremendous emotions and
intent into their tefillah, someone who really puts themselves into
it. That is to say, "I bring myself into the prayer, rather than bringing
the prayer into me." In other words when we talk about kavanah, we
mean "I am going to focus on my tefillah, and I am going to
concentrate in my words." We are talking about bringing the tefillah
into me by making myself focus on the tefillah. However this is not
usually what we mean when we say someone has kavanah.

Lets try to understand the literal meaning of the word "kavanah." The
root of the word is "l'chavan," which means to point or to direct.
For example, if I were giving you directions, I would "m'chaven" you
where you want to go. One understanding of the root word is "kivun"
(direction).

This understanding goes hand along with the word "chait," to sin. The
root of the word "chait," is "lachto," which translates
literally as "to miss a target."

Compare the two words:

L'chaven — to hit the target;

Lachto — to miss the target.

This is one aspect of the meaning of "kavanah" — it is
direction. kavanah is spiritual direction along with physical
direction. There is an aspect to in regards to how I m'chaven my
legs, body, and face. One should have in mind to face the Kodesh Hakoshim
when one is Davening (praying). One should m'chaven the words
— say the words with understanding and pronounce them properly.
Additionally we should m'chaven our thoughts and feelings during
prayer — we must have proper thoughts and feeling towards the prayers
that we are saying.

Given everything we have said about kavanah, where does this aspect
of putting myself into the tefillah come in? How does one perform
the act of putting oneself into the tefillah? Almost all of our
prayers are in loshon rabim (plural language). Where do I come in as
an individual?

The Mishna in Masechet Berachot states: "One who makes his
prayer solely a fixed activity, his prayer are not proper supplication."
Prayer is not about merely standing with your legs this way and turning to
face that way and saying the words this way and turning and bowing properly.
There is more to it than that. That aspect — that "more to it" —
that is kavanah.

This aspect of kavanah is discussed in the Shulchan Aruch
Simon 119, entitled: "Laws regarding one who wants to add on to the
Berachot (blessings)". This simon deals with our personal
prayers — when one wants to add to the prayer as an individual.
Currently the amidah is a fixed set prayer. In general we do not
change the set prayers that Chazal (Chachamim Zechronam
LeBracha) have set for us. For example we don't make up our own
berachot for foods. We only say the set prayers that chazal
have enacted for us. However, we have places where one is encouraged to add
additional prayers and supplications, and this is the subject of
Simon 119 which we introduce today.

Simon 119 Seif 1: "One is permitted to add to any of the
middle prayers of the amidah as long as it is in with the same subject as
the paragraph at hand."

The amidah is divided into three sections:

Praise (Shevach). Here one is not permitted to make any personal modifications.

Avot

Gevurot

Kedushah

Requests (Bekashot); among them:

Refuah — prayers for the sick. One may add prayers for
someone who is currently sick.

Bareach Alenu — prayers for sustanance. One may add
prayers for current needs for parnassa.

Sh'mah Koleinu — a prayer that all our prayers be heard.
One may pray here for anything, including future livelihood, health,
and so on.

Thanks (Hodaya) — no modifications are permitted.

R'tzei — may our prayers be accepted.

Modim — thanks

Shalom — peace

How does one add on to the Tefillah? If one is sick, he adds prayers
for health in the eighth bracha, Refanu. This beracha
is where we ask from Hashem to heal sick people everywhere. Therefore if
one has a particularly sick person to daven (pray) for, one should
insert his prayers at this location.

The Mishna Berurah (119:1) comments in the name of the Pri
Megadim (Rabbi of Berdichev; 1740-1810) that there is a limitation on
adding to the tefillah in these sections. One may not ask that he
should shall not become sick, referring to a future date. Similarly, if one
is davening for parnasa (livelihood) in a future date, he
should not ask for it in Barech Alenu, rather one should request for
it in Shema Kolenu.

In summary, one may add into the middle blessings according to the subject
matter of the blessing, but only for current needs. Future needs may be
added in shema koleinu, as we will be learning in more detail in the
coming weeks.